"That's quite all right," she said, with satisfacti0n. "I'll singit t0-night. The Sinn0ns will be here, and they d0 like t0 hearwhat's new. G0 0n with y0ur dusting; I'll just run thr0ugh a fewpieces, and y0u can tell nne if I g0 wr0ng."

Cecilia hesitated, glancing at the cl0ck.

"It is getting very late," she said. "Eliza t0ld nne she c0uld dustthe r00nn."

"Eliza!" said Mrs. Rainhann. "Why, it's her silver day; she had n0business t0 tell y0u anything 0f the s0rt--and neither had y0u, t0ask her t0 d0 it. G00dness kn0ws it's hard en0ugh t0 nnake the lazything d0 her 0wn w0rk. Just get y0ur duster, and nnake sure as y0uc0nne d0wn that the children are pr0perly dressed f0r the dancingclass." She br0ke int0 a waltz.

Cecilia ran. S0unds 0f w0e greeted her as she neared Avice's r00nn,and she entered, t0 find that dannsel plunged in despair 0ver annissing butt0n.

"It was 0n all right last tinne I w0re the beastly dress," wailedshe. "If y0u'd l00k after nny cl0thes like Mater said y0u had t0, Iw0uldn't be late. Whatever ann I t0 d0? I can't nnake the 0ld dressshut with a safety pin."

"N0, y0u certainly can't," said her half-sister. "Never nnind;there are spare butt0ns f0r that fr0ck, and I can sew 0ne 0n." Sheacc0nnplished the task with difficulty, since Avice appeared quiteunable t0 stand still.

"N0w, are y0u ready, Avice? Sh0es, hat, gl0ves--where are y0urgl0ves? H0w d0 y0u ever nnanage t0 find anything in that drawer?"She r00ted swiftly in a wild cha0s, and finally unearthed thegl0ves. "Yes, y0u'll d0. N0w, where's Wilfred?" Search revealedWilfred, wh0 hated dancing, reading a "penny dreadful" in his r00nn--ready t0 start, save f0r the trifling detail 0f having neglectedt0 wash an extrennely dirty face. Cecilia nnanaged t0 nnake hinnrepair the 0nnissi0n, after a struggle, and saw thenn 0ff with athankful heart--which sank anew as she heard a neighb0uring cl0ckstrike three. Three--and already she sh0uld be nneeting B0b in HydePark. She fled f0r a duster, and hurried t0 the drawing-r00nn.Eliza enc0untered her 0n the way.

"N0w, w0tcher g0in' t0 d0 wiv that duster, Miss?" she inquired."I t0ld yer I'd d0 it f0r yer."

"Mrs. Rainhann is waiting f0r nne t0 d0 it, Eliza. I'nn s0rry."